For the past few months now I’ve been working toward starting an agricultural business that will be powered by alternative energy, restored to meet green certification standards, and managed with the goal of achieving profitability through sustainable business practices. In order to understand what’s really involved in building a green business, I’ve spent all of my time learning about other organic businesses, researching alternative energy technologies, tracking down grants, loans and funding options, and pitching my project to anyone who would listen.

By centering my business around the concept of long-term environmental sustainability, I am standing up to the status quo, and making a statement that I will not compromise when it comes to doing what’s right by the environment. I know that building a green business from scratch isn’t cheap – I’ve done the research, and I know that it will cost me more to build sustainability into my business than it would were I to throw those philosophies aside.

Money isn’t everything, and I believe that by doing what’s good and what’s right, I can succeed and build the business of my dreams. And while I do understand the practical realities involved in starting a business, buying a farm, and installing all kinds of energy projects, I’m also learning that there are organizations out there who are dedicated to helping people like me grow these kinds of businesses.

A few weeks ago I received a message from a young man named Owen. In his message, Owen introduced himself, explained that he worked for a company called NativeEnergy, and stated that he had been given my business card at the Craft Brewer’s Convention a few weeks earlier. I had been at the Craft Brewer’s Convention (part of the business I am developing is a commercial hop farm), but didn’t recall meeting Owen, and had never heard of NativeEnergy.

Our "test crop" of hops.

NativeEnergy, I’ve since learned, is a carbon-solutions consulting company that helps business reduce their carbon footprint by selling carbon offsets and renewable energy credits, and also by investing in companies that want to install renewable energy projects. Having heard of my plan from my Development Officer (aka “mom”), Owen contacted me to learn more about my project and offer ideas on how NativeEnergy and I could work together.

Founded in 2001, NativeEnergy is based out of Burlington, Vermont, and has helped well-know companies, including Stonyfield Farm, Timberland, and The Dave Matthews Band, to install renewable energy projects and offset carbon emissions. The company helps businesses understand their options when it comes to creating carbon neutral projects, and points organizations in the directions they need when it comes to the early development of their plans. At the same time, NativeEnergy works with carbon emitting businesses to help them offset their carbon pollution.

Since receiving that initial message from Owen, I’ve had 2 productive conversations about my business, NativeEnergy’s initiatives, and what I can do moving forward to try and develop my renewable energy projects to line up with NativeEnergy’s model. And even though I’m still in the early stages of building my business (I don’t even own land yet), the people I’ve talked to have been helpful, enthusiastic and eager to see me succeed. It amazes me that there is a business out there who contacted me, who wants to help me, and who may eventually play a role in actually financing my dream!

When I realized that I had to build this farm, and do it in the greenest manner possible, I empowered myself to challenge the way business has always been done, and make change happen from the bottom up.? So even though I don’t have a farm yet, I’ve already invested time and energy in figuring out what I need to make my farm sustainable. Building a business like this – with a mind to what REALLY matters – is a win-win situation. By planning for the long-term health of the earth and environment, I think that I am planning for the long-term success of my business and my vision.

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I’ve noticed an abundance of reusable shopping bags being offered everywhere I go lately. The Massachusetts General Hospital Blood Donor Center handed over an attractive tote after I handed over a pint, the Craft Brewer’s Convention passed out their conference goodies in sturdy beige bags, and every grocery store I visit has cheap bags offered right at the register. Hooray! Perhaps the tide is finally turning.

I’ve found a whole new batch of cute totes and reusable bags that can be used to haul groceries, books, laundry, gifts, lunches and any other smallish-items you might be inclined to carry around. And remember, the easier you make it on yourself to incorporate reusable bags into your life, the easier it will be to make meaningful changes to your actions. So keep grocery bags in your car – you don’t need them in the kitchen! Carry small totes in your purse or bag, and buy the cheap ones when you leave home without your favorites. Remember, you can always give away bags you buy but don’t necessarily love.

If you’re one of those special people who likes to gift their friends with beer, or if you include six-packs as part of your picnic supplies, you might like these Bottle Bags from Reisenthel. These sturdy canvas bags fit up to 9 bottles, and are designed so the bottles don’t tip over or bang against wach other while being carried. These Fair Trade/Fair Labor bags are affordable and can be purchased at Reusable Bags for between $13.50 and $15.00 a piece.

When it comes to Reisenthel products, I also really like the Market Basket. Designed to resemble a basic grocery store basket, these aluminum-frame baskets are designed to carry up to 55 pounds of goods. I have seen people using these baskets at my local farmer’s market, and love the fact that they are structured and supportive enough to carry everything from containers of liquids to bunches of flowers or plants. The colorful patterns help too! You can find these baskets for about $35 on the Reusable Bag site.

Lunch bags don’t need to boring – at least that’s what I discovered when I stumbled on the Built NY website. Crafted from Neoprene (the material used to make most wetsuits), Gourmet Getaway Lunch Totes are insulated lunch bags that will keep your food and drinks cold for about 4 hours after being packed. The bags all have zip closures (so nothing gets in or out!), and are machine washable. Built NY sells the bags in a range of colors and patterns for between $22.00 and $25.00 on their website.

If you’re looking to do away with those plastic sandwich bags in your life,? you might like these funny ReUsies Snack Bags. Developed by a group of moms in Seattle, ReUsies are meant to replace plastic sandwich and snack bags. Both the small snack bags and the larger sandwich bags come in a range of kid-friendly and just plain patterns and colors. These bags are made from 100% cotton, and lined with PVC-free nylon. You can machine wash all ReUsies products, and feel good that by using these bags you’re keeping plastic from ever entering your landfill. The bags are a deal too, especially when compared to conventional plastic baggies that carry so many lunches to offices and schools everyday.

Remember, if you make the process of changing your eco-habits fun and enjoyable, you’ll be more likely to stick to the plan. Carry bags that suit your personal style. Buy enough bags to stash at home, in the car, at the gym, in your office – wherever you think you might need them! I buy groceries while working sometimes, so I try and keep at least 2 bags in my desk drawer there. Reusable bags don’t have to be a burden – with the right colors, the perfect patterns, and a collection of bags suited to your needs, you’ll always be both stylish and eco-chic!

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We’ve entered that special time of the year when the smell of lilacs fills the air, when trees and bushes explode in pink, yellow and white blossoms, and when gardens need your love and attention after another long winter. For those of us who love gardening, now is the time that we pull out our wheelbarrows and rakes, map out where we want to plant new flowers, and get our hands dirty working in beds.

In caring for our gardens however, it’s important to consider how your actions are impacting the environment. While it seems contradictory that your gardening activities could have a negative impact on the earth (you are gardening after all), you might be surprised to find out how many seemingly innocent products and practices are actually eco-adverse.

By incorporating a few “green” practices into your gardening habits, you can create a more healthy outdoor ecosystem and have a truly “green” garden this season. And while you may have to compromise a little bit (after all, it’s hard to have perfect green grass if you don’t use chemicals on your lawn), but at the end of the summer you’ll feel better about your yard and have reduced your negative enviromental impact on your own land.

Change your Mowing Habits

For a nation trying to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and petroleum, Americans use an awful lot of it when mowing their lawns. There’s no need to power mowers with petrol however, and one way to reduce your footprint is to go petroleum-free when it comes to your lawn. If you have a small patch of grass, consider investing in a push-mower. Clean Air Gardening offers several types that range in price from $109 for a Scotts Classic Reel Push Mower to $1300 for a?Putting Green Reel Mower that provides that manicured and finished look found on golf course.

If you have a larger yard, try buying an electric lawn mower instead of one that runs on gas. Electric mowers still require the use of electricity and power cords, however, they only consume about $5 in electricity annually. Additionally, electric mowers are quiet and don’t contribute to the buzz-saw sound of gas mowers that’s often prevalent on warm weekend afternoons. Sears has electric mowers that range from $160 for the Black and Decker 18 inch Electric Mower, to $239 for the Craftsman 19 inch Premium Electric Mower.

Mulch, than Mulch Some More!

Mulch is a great water saver in the garden as it prevents water from evaporating, keeps your plants’ roots cool, and holds water for longer, therefore requiring that your water your plants less often. Mulch also gives your beds a well-kept and finished look, and improve your soil by adding organic matter to your mix. Learn more about the benefits of mulching by visiting The National Resources Conservation Service.

Buy Heirloom Plants and Seeds

Not all seeds are created equal – especially when some of those seeds have been genetically modified in a lab! When planting a garden, consider only using heirloom seeds and plants – those that were introduced before 1951, when plant breeders introduced hybrid plants developed from inbred lines. Heirlooms are old, open-pollinated plants, and have not been altered by science.

Many people also feel that heirloom fruits and vegetables taste better and are easier to grow than fruit and vegetables from hybrid plants. Regardless, when you grow heirlooms you are growing the same plants that your grandparents grew, and contributing to an environment filled with naturally-propagated plants instead of those created in a lab.

Go Organic!

When growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees, there is no need to add chemical fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. You can still produce a bumper crop of tomatoes or prize-winning flowers without dumping chemicals into the ground. Check out these tips for organic pest control from Organic Garden Pests, or Extremely Green’s Organic Pest Control Guide. Remember too, whatever you dump on your herbs, fruits and vegetables will eventually make its way back to you – so think twice before pouring Miracle Gro or other chemical foods and fertilizers all over your gardens.

I hope these simple tips will help point you in the right direction this spring. There are tons of other green gardening tips out there that I can’t address in one post – keep tuned though and I will try to bring you more tips for the garden as we get deeper and deeper into this beautiful non-winter weather. Happy Gardening!

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For years now I have struggled to find shampoos and conditioners that work for my ultra-sensitive hair and skin, but also leave my hair soft and shiny. When I was a teenager I realized that my scalp wasn’t able to handle my applying the same shampoos and conditioners for extended periods of time – if I did, I always ended up with weird red bumps and and itchy scalp – no fun! Because of this condition (which I never bothered to really research), I started using organic and all natural hair care products in college and have never looked back.

Over the years the selection of organic shampoos and conditioners has grown significantly – which is great since after using all of the shampoo from a bottle, I HAVE to switch brands! I can remember when there were only 3 or 4 options on the market, and I would rotate between them, hoping that my scalp wouldn’t break out while doing so.

With so many new choices cropping up all the time, I thought I would point out a few of my favorite brands and help others of you who are looking for organic hair care products that are affordable, don’t contain petrochemicals and toxic fragrances, and aren’t tested on animals.

My favorite brand currently has to be Alba Botanicals. Made with papaya, jojoba, sunflower seed, macadamia and kukui nut oils, the Alba Hair Care line leaves your hair silky smooth and also smelling like a tropical rain forest. I especially like the Mango Moisturizing Hair Wash and Conditioner (both of which are infused with vitamin-rich pineapple and papaya extracts), and love the way my hair feels when it’s clean and dry. Alba Botanicals is one of the primary product lines of Avalon Natural Products – a company with a long-standing commitment to creating environmentally sustainable products.

I am also partial to Avalon Organics hair care products, which happen to also be a part of the Avalon Natural Products product line. Oddly, I had no idea that the shampoos were made by the same company until I started researching the brands just now. I’ve been using Avalon Organics for a few years now, and have tried their Lavender Nourishing, Lemon Clarifying, Rosemary Volumizing and Peppermint Revitalizing products – and I love them all. The Peppermint shampoo and conditioner are especially pungent and help wake me up when I step into the shower still half in dreamland.

If you’re looking for a great company that makes eco-sensitive products for your hair (and skin), Avalon Natural Products might be the company you’ve been waiting to find. Not only are their products affordable (about $8 per bottle for both shampoo and conditioner), but they also have a commitment to the environment which they take the time to spell out on their corporate website. The company is reducing their carbon footprint at every level of their business, and is also dedicated to investing in their local community.

Another love of mine are the shampoos and conditioners made by the good people at Burt’s Bees. While I have been a fan of Burt’s Bees skincare products (specifically their Coconut Foot Cream, Beeswax Moisturizing Day Cream and Radiance Eye Cream) for years, I only recently discovered their shampoos and conditioners. I must admit that I’m partial to the Color Keeper Green Tea & Fennel Seed Shampoo and Conditioner – the products have an aroma that arouses nostalgic feelings in me, and I always smile when I smell it on my hair! The company also carries several other shampoos and conditioners with flavors such as Grapefruit & Sugar beet, and Raspberry & Brazil Nut. Almost good enough to eat!

I am relatively certain that Burt’s Bees does a lot of good work when it comes to the environment, but was unable to confirm so when researching this post. For whatever reason the website would not allow me to access the company’s “About Us” page or their Media/News pages…

Other brands you might consider checking out include: Nature’s Gate, Kiss My Face, Jason Natural Products, Aveda, Lush, and The Body Shop. I’ve used shampoo and conditioner from each company – except for Lush – and highly recommend them all. Lush is next on my list, so stayed tuned for an update about the handmade organic skin and hair care products from them. Here’s to the never-ending search for the perfect eco-friendly hair care products!